Machine for making confectionery.



PATENTBD OCT. 31, 1905.

P. KNORPP. MACHINE FOR MAKING GONFECTIONERY.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 21, 1904. RENEWED APR. 22,1905.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

No. 803,293. PATENTED OCT. 31. 1905.

P. KNORPP. MACHINE FOR MAKING GONFEGTIONERY.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 21, 1904. RENEWED APR. 22. 1905.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

I v 1 P/ZiZi L/KM PATENTED OUT. 31, 1905.

P. KNORPP. MACHINE FOR MAKING GONFEOTIONERY. APPLICATION FILED JUNE 21, 1904. RENEWED APE. 22.1905.

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6 I: l it 1 T: 9 o 2' z 9 3 0 o 1 j 5 9 A- L 2 l 1 i /L- PHILIP KNORPP, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

MAC HINE FOR MAKING CONFECTIONERY.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 31, 1905.

Application filed June 21, 1904. Renewed April 22, 1905. Serial No. 256,995.

To all whom it may concern.

Be it known that I, PHILIP KNoRPP, a citizen of the United States, residing in New York,

borough of Brooklyn, in the State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Machines for Making Confectionery, of which the following is a specification.

In the machine for making confectionery for which I was granted Letters Patent No. 454,278, dated June 16, 1891, the articles of confectionery were deposited from a paste receptacle or receiver having a perforated bottom onto a sheet of paper which was fed forward below the paste-receptacle and supported on a vertiwhy-reciprocating platform operated simultaneously with the forward feeding of the paper for receiving the next quantity of confectionery. The machine was confined to articles that are pressed through the perforations in the bottom of the paste-receptacle. It has since been found that a machine of this type can also be employed for making cheap confectionery articles in molds and producing them in large quantity, for which purpose the construction of the machine referred to had to be changed in several details, relating mainly to the removal of the follower by whichthe paste is forced from the paste-receptacle into the molds and in the simplified construction of the vertically-reciprocating table on which the molds are supported and raised up to the delivery-nozzles of the paste-receptacle and lowered away from the same for removing the molds; and the invention consists in the mechanism for raising the follower clear out of the paste-receptacle and swinging it, with its supporting counterbalanced lever, sidewise of the receptacle for conveniently filling the latter.

The invention consists, secondly, in the construction of the interchangeable bottom for the paste-receptacle with itspasterdelivery nozzles; thirdly, in the mechanism for raising and lowering and arresting the motion of the platform on which the molds are supported, and, lastly, in certain details of construction and combinations of partswhich will be fully described hereinafter andifinally pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings,'Figure 1 represents a side 'elevation'of my improved machine for making;confectionery,i partly in section through the paste-rece'pt'acle'and follower of the same. FigiQis a front relevation of themachine. Fig. 3 is a plan view,

partly in horizontal section, on line 3 3, Fig. 1. Figs. 4 and 5 are detail sections of the mechanism for lowering the follower into the paste-receptacle and raising the same out of the paste-receptacle. Fig. 6 is a plan view of the mold drawn on a larger scale; and Fig. 7 is a vertical transverse section through the paste-receptacle and mold, showing the latter in position for filling.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts.

Referring to the drawings, A designates the lower main portion or standard of the supporting-frame of my improved machine for making confectionery, said main portion consisting of four upright pillars a, which are connected by side and rear braces 64 and by a top plate a To the top plate a is attached acentral upright standard A, which is curved forward at its upper end and provided with an oblong guide-piece b for the verticallyguided follower-rod C, said guide-piece being provided with a pivoted plate b, by means of which the follower-rod may be removed from the guide-piece. The follower-rod C carries at its lower end the follower C, which is made, preferably, of rectangular shape and guided in the paste-receptacle B, that is similarly shaped and of suitable size to receive a large quantity of sugar or other paste from which the confectionery is to be made. The paste-receptacle B is supported on horizontal brackets B, which are cast integral with the top plate a or attached thereto in any suitable manner, the bracket-frame embracing the receptacle B and forming a firm support for the same, in connection with a transverse front bar 6, which is attached by fastening-screws 6 to the front end of the brackets B. By removing the front bar 5 the receptacle can be readily removed from the supporting-brackets B for cleaning or repairs. To the lower end of the paste-receptacle B is attached, by means of fasteningscrews 6*, a perforated bottom B which is provided with as many nozzles n inserted into the bottom perforations as there are articles to be made at one and the same time. Each size of articles requires a separate bottom and nozzles, so that articles of different sizes and shapes can be readily made in the machine by simply attaching to the lower end of the pastereceptacle the bottom suited to the articles to be made. The follower C is preferably provided with a valved vent-pipe, so that when the follower is inserted into the filled paste-receptacle the air can readily escape from the same before the work is commenced. vent-pipe Q is then closed when the air has escaped from the space between the follower Cand the past-e in the receptacle. Motion is imparted to the follower C by a fulcrumed and counterbalanced lever D, which is provided with a handle it at one end and a weight w near its opposite end. The fulcrum-pin (Z is swiveled in a perforated ear (Z of the standard A, the lever D being extended sidewise of the standard A, so that it can be swung from its normal position shown in full lines in Figs. 1 and 3 into aposition shown in dotted lines in Figs. 2 and 3. The follower-rod is provided with teeth at its front and rear edges, the front teeth being inclined in upward direction, as shown, while the rear teeth are inclined in downward direction, and said rod is guided in a keeper on the lever D, spring-actuated pawls it being fulcrumed to the upper front and lower rear corners of said keeper.

Either the front or rear pawl is forced into engagement with the teeth on the followerrod C by its spring by removing the transverse retaining-pin 71: which is inserted into holes of the keeper, one near the lower end of the front pawl and the other in the upper end of the rear pawl, as shown in Figs. 4c and 5. When the follower is to be lowered, the retaining-pin 79 of the front pawl is removed, so that the front pawl is placed in engage? ment with the teeth of the follower, while when the rear pawl is thrown out of engagement with the rear teeth of the follower-rod, as shown in Fig. 4. When the follower is to be raised the front pawl is withdrawn from the front teeth and held in position by inserting the retaining-pin if, as shown in Fig. 5, so as to hold the pawl out of engagement with the front teeth, while the pin of the rear pawl is removed, so that the latter is forced into engagement with the rear teeth. It has been found that the friction between the follower C and the sides of the paste receptacle Bis sufficient to hold the follower-rod in raised position during the brief space of time 00- cupied by tho downstroke of the operatinglever, so that when the pawls are properly adjusted the raising of said follower can be readily effected by a series of rapid downward movements alternating with upward movements of any desired rapidity, as is obvious. In this manner either pawl can be placed in engagement with the teeth of the followerrod U, and thereby the follower C moved in upward or downward direction in the pastereceptacle B by the operating-lever D or lifted out of the paste-receptacle for being moved, with the lever D, into position sidewise of the paste-receptacle, so that the latter can be refilled.

The lever D is forked at the point of con The valved portions being provided with slots if, that engage transverse pins 1? on the keeper 70, so that when the keeper is raised or lowered on the follower-rod C there is sufficient play for the lever D to adjust itself to the different positions of the keeper on the follower-rod.

When the follower is to be lowered, the front pawl k is placed in engagement with the front teeth of the follower-rod and the main lever then lowered, so that a quantity of paste is forced through the discharge-nozzles a into the molds placed below the same. By the next action of the lever the keeper 7c is raised, so that the front pawl it" passes in front of the same, so that by the next downward motion the follower is pressed downward on the paste until all the paste is forced out through the receptacle, in which case the follower arrives near the bottom of the same, while the lever D arrives near the upper end of the follower-rod C. It is obvious that the arrangement of the pawls and the teeth of the follower-rod, as shown, may be reversed, if desired.

When it is desired to raise the follower C out of the paste-receptacle B, the front pawl is locked into position so as to clear the front teeth of the follower rod, while the rear pawl is placed in engagement with the rear teeth of the follower-rod by withdrawing its retaining-pin, so that by several successive upward and downward motions of the lever D the rear pawl of the keeper is passed successively into engagement with the rear teeth of the follower-rod, and thereby the same and the follower raised so that the latter clears the pastereceptacle, and the lever D, with the followerrod and follower, can be swung into sidewise position. Before this is accomplished the pivoted plate 6 on the guide-piece at the upper end of the standard A is moved into raised position, as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 1, said plate being pivoted at its upper front corner to the guide-piece 6, while its notched lower end engages a pin on the same. By raising the side plate 6 the follower-rod can he moved out of the guide-piece b or retained in the same, when the side plate 6* is I lowered again, so as to restore the guiding action of the follower-rod.

Below the paste-receptacle B is arranged a horizontal table or platform E, that is supported on a vertical guide-rod E, which is guided in sleeves e at the front ends of bracket arms E that are attached to transverse supporting-plates E, having sleeves engaging the front pillars a, as shown clearly in Figs. 1 and 2. To the guide-rod E, intermediately between the guide-sleeves e e, is pivoted the slotted front end of a fulcrumed and weighted lever E, which imparts a lifting motion to the platform E, so as to move it in upward direction toward the stationary paste-receptacle. The lever is fulcrunned to nection with the keeper 7c, the forked parallel l a center arm 0 of the lower supporting-plate E. The platform is raised by means of a hand-wheelfi which is attached to one end of a shaft f, supported in bearings f on the upper supporting-plate E The shaft f carries near its opposite end a pinion f which meshes with a rack on the rear edge of the guide-rod E. To the end of the shaftf opposite to the hand-wheelf is keyed a ratchetwheel f, a collar being inserted between the hub of the ratchet-wheel and the hub of the pinion, so as toprevent the shifting of the shaft in lateral direction. The ratchet-wheel f is engaged, by a gravity check-pawl f,

which is pivoted to ears on the upper supporting-plate E*, so as to lock the platform in position after the same is lifted. When the platform is to be lowered by the hand-wheel and intermediate pinion and rack mechanism, the pawl is lifted out of engagement with the ratchet-wheel and returned in the same whenever the platform is to be held in locked position. To the under side of the platform E is attached a downwardly-extending threaded rod 9, which passes through a perforated ear (1 at the front end of the upper sleeve 0. ()n the screw-threaded rod 9 are placed two adjustable stops 9 which serve for limiting the motion of the platform in upward and downward direction, said stops being adjustable, so as to arrange for the different distances to which the platform is to be moved in casting the difl erent sizes of articles of confectionery.

The platform E is provided with corner recesses, so as to be guided along the front pillars a, and with angular stationary or adjustable stops az, said stops serving as gages for the frame M of the molds on, into which the articles of confectionery are to be cast. The frames M are preferably of rectangular shape, consisting of a bottom and a raised rim. The molds m are made of plaster-of-paris, each mold being placed in position in the frame M and locked in the same by means of wedges m, which are inserted between the inclined faces of a front cleat m The plaster-of-paris molds mare placed in the bottom of the frame, as shown in Fig. 6. The molds are made in the usual manner of longitudinal sections and provided with a plurality of individual molds, a number of sectional molds being supported in the frame M, the bottom of the paste-receptacle being provided with a corresponding number of nozzles n, so that each individual mold when placed in position on the platform E below the receptacle can be supplied with the required quantity of paste by operating the follower C by means of the lever D. The frame M is provided with a handle 7725*, so as to permit its convenient removal from the platform as soon as the molds are filled.

The machine is operated as follows: For filling the paste-receptacle B the follower C is removed by lifting the lever D after the pawls have been placed in proper position with regard to the teeth of the follower-rod.

The lever D is removed with the follower sidewise of the receptacle, so that the same can be filled with the paste. Thefollower is then returned with the lever into position in the paste-receptacle and the mold-frame with a number of molds placed on the platform and raised to such an extent that the deliverynozzles extend centrally into the molds, as shown in Fig. 7, with their lower ends near the lower ends of the hollow spaces in the molds. The operator then imparts by his right hand pressure on the lever D and the follower C while he turns with his left hand and the hand-wheel f, so as to gradually lower the platform E and the molds supported thereon until the lower end of the nozzles 42 is in line with the top surface of the molds 1a.,the grad ual pressure on the follower O and the slow withdrawal of the molds by the lowering of the platform producing the gradual filling of the molds with paste. The small projecting portions of the paste on the top surface of the molds are removed by a knife or scraper. The molds are then removed from the platform and the next set of molds placed on the same. The platform is then raised again by turning the hand-wheel in opposite direction until the nozzles arrive near the lower ends of the cavities in the molds, when again the pressure is imparted by the lever D to the follower, so as to fill the molds simultaneously with the lowering of the platform and molds. The extent of motion of the platform E is controlled by stops on its guide-rods, so that the operator knows when the molds arrive at their proper relative position to the delivery-nozzles. To prevent the lowering of the platform while the full molds are being removed and empty molds placed in position thereon, the pawl is dropped into the ratchet-wheel, so that the platform is locked in position. When the platform is raised again by the hand-wheel, the pawl is lifted into raised position, as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 2, so as to permit the upward motion of the platform.

My improved machine can also be used for ornamenting articles-such as crackers, Christmas-tree ornaments, and the likein which case the bottoms of the receptacleare not provided with nozzles, but with perforated ornaments adapted to the size and shape of the articles, which are supported on trays and placed against the gages of the platform in the same manner as the mold-frames, the paste then being pressed through the holes forming the ornament in the paste-receptacle directly onto the article to be ornamented. A large variety of articles can be made in large quantities by the improved machine in a short time.

Having thus described my invention, Iclaim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent 1. In a machine for making confectionery, a supporting-standard provided with a guide, a

paste-receptacle, a follower movable in the latter and provided with afollower-rod movable in said guide, means for permitting the lateral removal of said follower-rod from said guide, and a follower-operating lever swiveled to said standard and having means for engaging said follower-rod.

2. In a machine for making confectionery, the combination of a paste-receptacle, a follower in the same, a follower-rod attached to said follower, a lever connected to said follower rod for operating said follower, a

swivel-pin to which said lever is fulcrumed,

and asupporting-standard for said lever provided with a guide-piece at its upper end and with a pivoted side plate for permitting the removal and replacing of the follower-rod in the guide-piece.

3. In a machine for making confectionery, the combination of a paste-receptacle, a follower in the same, a rod for said follower provided with two sets of oppositely-disposed rack-teeth, a fulcrumed and weighted lever for operating said follower, a sleeve supported on said lever and provided with oppositely-disposed spring-actuated pawls, and means for locking either of the pawls into or out of engagement with the correspondinglydisposed rack-teeth of said follower-rod.

4. In a machine for making confectionery, a paste-receptacle, a follower movable in the same, a follower-rod provided with two sets of oppositely-disposed rack-teeth, a followeroperating lever, a sleeve carried by said lever and having spring-actuated pawls for engagement with said sets of rack-teeth, and removable pins carried by said sleeve for locking either of said pawls in inoperative position.

In a machine for making confectionery, the combination of a vertically-reciprocating platform, a vertical guide-rod attached to said platform, means for counterbalancing said platform, a rack on said guide-rod, a shaft provided with a pinion meshing with said rack, a pawl-and-ratchet mechanism for looking or releasing said shaft, stationary guide-sleeves for said guide-rod, a perforated ear on the upper guide-sleeve, and a rod depending from said platform, said rod being slidable in said perforated ear,and having adjustable stops for engagement therewith.

6. In a machine for making confectionery, a suitable support, a vertically-movable platform, means for guiding and counterbalancing the latter, a perforated ear fixed to said support, a vertical threaded rod attached to said platform and movable in said ear, and threaded stops engaging said threaded rod at either side of said perforated ear.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my invention 1 have signed my name in presence of two subscribing witnesses.

. PHILIP KNORPP.

WVitnesses:

PAUL GonPnL, HENRY J. SUHRBIER. 

